The Lebanese Army announced Thursday the arrest in Qmatieh, in the Aley district, of five people accused of firing shots in the air at a funeral, a practice legally punishable by imprisonment.

According to a brief statement released by the troop, the arrest took place on Wednesday. Of the five suspects, four are Lebanese and one is Syrian, having fired during funerals on March 17 and 18. "A large quantity of military weapons and ammunition was seized in their possession," said the statement. An investigation has been launched.

Firing shots in the air is a tradition that continues to be practiced in Lebanon despite legislation, fatwas from religious leaders, and regular warnings from authorities to the public, particularly before specific events. Adopted in 2016, law no. 71 punishes any person firing in the air with a firearm with imprisonment from six months up to three years, in addition to a fine equivalent to eight to ten times the official minimum wage and a lifetime ban on possessing a weapon. If the shot is fatal, the sentence is commuted to hard labor for a period of 10 to 15 years. However, this law is rarely enforced, since it's often impossible to identify the responsible party or parties.